A High Court of the Federal Capital Territory has discharged former Aviation Minister Stella Oduah from a ₦2.5 billion fraud case following a plea bargain agreement between the prosecution and the defendants.

Justice Hamza Muazu ordered the discharge after the Federal Government formally withdrew the charges against Oduah and her former aide, Gloria Odita. However, the case continued against two companies linked to the former minister — Sobora International Limited and Global Offshore and Marine Limited.

The prosecution explained that the decision followed a review of the case in line with the plea agreement, which led to the companies admitting guilt to charges of unlawful possession of funds amounting to over ₦2 billion. Based on their guilty plea, the court convicted both firms and ordered their winding up.

The court also approved the forfeiture of ₦1.2 billion paid as restitution, along with ₦780 million recovered during the investigation, directing that the funds be handed over to the Federal Government.

The charges stemmed from allegations that the defendants conspired in 2014 to fraudulently obtain funds from the Federal Ministry of Aviation through private firms. Although Oduah and Odita had earlier pleaded not guilty, the plea bargain ultimately led to their discharge from the case.